Chapter 176: Sefira’s Big Shot (1)

The two strongest contenders for the title of the Sword of the South now stood face to face: Rajis Garcia, the Sword Dragon and a swordsmanship prodigy from Garcia, and Norman, a knight from the unremarkable Shadabon family. If the match were judged by social standing alone, the outcome was certain. Yet, in this tournament, Norman's divine power rivaled—or even surpassed—that of the famed prodigy.

“Norman’s swordsmanship seems to change every time.”

“And he doesn’t hold back on big moves either.”

Even ordinary spectators with no understanding of martial arts could tell something was strange about Norman. He didn’t stick to one style but switched between several. And if even ordinary people could notice this, the knights’ suspicions went far deeper.

“It’s not impossible to learn foreign sword styles if you’re determined, but his mastery is way too refined.”

“Unless I’m mistaken, wasn’t that Strike-Breaking Wave, the Blackwood family's secret technique? It’s not perfect, but I’m sure it was that...”

“Shadabon is a family that doesn’t leave the southern region... How is he using a technique similar to the Browning family's Divine Flame Sword, a sword technique from the north?”

Many knights began to question Norman’s true identity. Sword techniques unique to noble families were tightly guarded and rarely allowed to be shared. The fact that Norman was using multiple family techniques should have raised red flags long ago.

The reason no one was raising an official objection was that sword techniques—especially from distant regions—could sometimes be similar. It was hard to prove whether Norman’s skills were from those noble families or were his own. Besides, Eslow was staying silent, so who among them could step forward? They could start scrutinizing the origins of his techniques once the tournament ended, so they didn’t think they had to rush.

Norman, too, was aware that using various sword styles would draw suspicion.

But it doesn’t matter. I’ll discard Norman after this tournament anyway.

He had already decided that he would ambush Keter once the tournament ended, absorb him, and live under his name. As such, Norman’s future was irrelevant to him.

“...”

Norman looked at Rajis. Even to a monster like himself, Rajis had an unlikable face.

Rajis also stared back. He recognized that look—Norman was judging his appearance. Beneath it, he could sense something else: contempt.

“...”

“...”

Norman, who always hurled insults at his opponents, said nothing this time. Rajis, who always greeted his opponents with courtesy, didn’t speak either. The two merely glared at each other with frowns.

Soon, the referee raised his hand. The two turned swiftly and walked to opposite ends of the ring.

I’ll end this in an instant.

Norman didn’t intend to drag things out against Rajis or anyone he faced. His only goal was Keter, and only Keter.

“Fight!”

The moment the referee shouted, Norman vanished. Even the knights who had been closely watching him were shocked.

“That’s Agile Footwork!”

“He knows how to use Agile Footwork too?!”

Though slower than Henya’s version, it was still fast enough to cross thirty meters in the blink of an eye. Norman grinned as he looked at Rajis, who stood motionless at the far end.

I’ve already analyzed your fighting style.

Rajis’s technique, Flawless Immortal Raiment, didn’t have a weakness; it was a perfect sword technique, each foundation of swordsmanship harmonizing altogether. But in this tournament, his style leaned toward what Norman saw as the elegance of slowness—slower than his opponent, yet impossible to dodge or block. That was the essence of the Steady Sword.

The Steady Sword was one of the more confusing foundations of swordsmanship; even Norman, who had absorbed countless martial styles, couldn’t fully grasp it.

It just looks like a simple style that overwhelms the opponent with superior aura.

That was what Norman thought. So far, everyone who faced Rajis couldn’t move, and Rajis was able to block the attacks as if they had rehearsed the fight.

Then I’ll crush your so-called strength with something even stronger.

Aura burst violently from Norman, coating his sword.

“If you don’t want to die, you better step out of bounds!”

Confident in his victory, Norman swung his Aura Sword. This was no ordinary swing; it was layered with dozens of overlapping Aura Swords and imbued with a secret technique, Fatal All-Cutting Sword. The slash was so powerful it could slice even orichalcum shields, which could withstand aura, in half. Even spectators dozens of meters away felt its sting on their skin.

However...

“Flawless Immortal Raiment: Heavenly Revolve.”

Rajis’ sword gently curved around the attack with unimaginable finesse.

“...!”

Norman couldn’t believe the sensation in his hand. He couldn’t control his blade. The immense rotational force of Rajis’ technique twisted his sword off course.

Crack!!

Fatal All-Cutting Sword, which was now off-course, struck the floor, carving a deep gash into the orichalcum floor. Norman quickly pulled back his sword, preparing for a counter, but Rajis didn’t attack. He hadn’t moved at all.

Instead, he said, “You came at me so confidently. Is that all?”

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“...”

A vein bulged on Norman’s forehead. To him, Rajis was just a fence—a small obstacle before he reached the summit named Keter. And yet, he had tripped on that fence.

“You block one attack and act like you’ve won?!”

Norman charged again. As he was angry and not stupid, he used a different sword technique: Strike-Breaking Wave, the Blackwood family’s secret technique.

A wave made of countless stabs crashed toward Rajis.

You won’t be able to deflect this!

As he expected, Rajis couldn’t deflect it because he didn’t need to.

“Flawless Immortal Raiment: Flying Daggers.”

Rajis released a flurry of sword aura, sharper and more refined than Norman’s own strikes.

Kaboom!!

Though Norman had struck first, he was the one being struck down. He raised his sword to block, but couldn’t catch all the attacks and ended up with slashes all over his body.

“...”

Now tattered, Norman glared at Rajis. Despite having the upper hand, Rajis hadn’t moved a step.

“May I attack now?”

Until now, he had only defended, and Norman knew it.

He’s nothing if I use my true power...

Norman admitted that he could not beat Rajis in this human body, as Rajis’ Flawless Immortal Raiment was too perfect; he could not pierce through his composure.

If I could just use one of my bladed tentacles...

Even with infinite aura, there were limits to what could be channeled at once. And even with countless secret techniques, a human body could only execute one at a time.

But I can’t reveal my true form either...

Norman glanced at Eslow. Though he was far away, even a sideways glance sent chills down his spine. Still, he couldn’t accept losing to a lowly human. Then, he noticed something, and his eyes gleamed.

Wait. That idiot hasn't moved this whole time. He's standing right at the edge of the ring!

This tournament had an out-of-bounds rule, where participants were required to stay within the boundary during battle. If they stepped out for whatever reason, they would immediately lose. And right now, Rajis was standing on the edge—just five big steps away. If Norman could push him out, the match was his.

Hehehe. Humans are so foolish.

A grin crept across Norman’s face.

“If you block this next attack, I’ll admit defeat.”

Norman goaded Rajis, trying to ensure he wouldn’t dodge.

With a cold stare, Rajis replied, “I have no desire for your approval.”

“Scared?”

“Talking so much. I won’t dodge, so attack all you like.”

“Heh. Fine then.”

Aura exploded from Norman again. He even threw away his sword and formed a massive Aura Sword.

Zwoosh... Whoosh!!!

What began as a longsword grew as Norman poured more aura into it. It became a two-meter-long, thirty-centimeter-wide greatsword, but he didn’t stop. The sword kept swelling to absurd proportions. Rajis remained expressionless, but the audience didn’t.

“My god! I’ve never seen an Aura Sword that big!”

“Isn’t that going to hit the crowd?!”

“How do you even block something like that?!”

In its final form, it was twelve meters long and four meters wide. It barely resembled a sword; it looked like Norman was swinging a mountain.

Norman raised it high and roared, “Let’s see you block this!”

Voong!!!

The swing alone created a shockwave. The sheer weight pressed down on the entire arena.

However, Rajis smirked.

“Far simpler than I expected.”

“...?!”

For the first time, Rajis moved, dashing forward toward Norman. Norman, mid-swing, couldn’t respond. Before the sword hit the ground, Rajis was already in front of him. Normally, this would be the moment one admitted defeat; no matter how thick their Aura Armor was, a direct strike would be devastating, but Norman didn’t yield. He readied himself to take the blow.

Slash or stab me all you want.

As a slime, as long as his core wasn’t hit, he could regenerate infinitely. Of course, it would be obvious if he regenerated quickly in front of others, so he would have to do it unnoticeably.

Fortune is still on my side.

The enormous Aura Sword was blocking everyone’s view, including Eslow’s, meaning no one could see him right now. Now was the perfect chance for him to summon his bladed tentacle and strike Rajis. Sure, Rajis might learn his secret, but...

Dead men tell no tales.

Killing during a match was forbidden, but no one could see, so no one could stop him.

Come on!

As Norman waited, confident in his victory...

“...?”

Rajis didn’t use a sword. He grabbed Norman by the collar barehanded.

“Haaa!!”

With a mighty shout, Rajis hurled Norman backwards.

“...?!”

Even mid-air, Norman couldn’t understand why Rajis hadn’t cut him. But then he realized where he was headed.

“T-this is?!”

Realization struck him with horror.

Rajis brushed off his hands and said, “I never planned to fight someone whose identity I don’t know head-on.”

Norman had already crossed the boundary. All that was left was for him to hit the ground and lose. Rajis was confident in his victory.

However, the greatest danger always came at the moment of victory.

Whoosh! Thud.

Rajis felt something strange wrap around his ankle. He looked down and saw something transparent and slimy coiled around it. It was Norman’s arm, stretched several meters like a tentacle.

“What the...?!”

Even Rajis couldn’t stay calm this time, and that made him hesitate. In a flash, Norman yanked him with tremendous force. Their positions reversed, making Norman land back on the ring and sending Rajis out. It all happened in an instant, hidden behind the colossal Aura Sword.

Pshh...

The giant Aura Sword finally vanished, and the scene it revealed was unmistakable.

“W-what just happened?!”

“Did Sir Rajis... lose by getting out of the ring?!”

“This can’t be real!”

Rajis had fallen outside the ring. Norman stood tall within it, smiling confidently: that was the reality the audience saw.

* * *

Rajis remained on the ground, head lowered, unable to even get up.

To think I let my guard down, even while suspecting that Norman might not be human...

No excuse would justify what had happened. Saying he didn’t expect Norman’s arm to suddenly stretch, or that he couldn’t have predicted such a blatant foul... It would all sound like empty justifications.

“

Sigh...

”

Brushing himself off, Rajis looked up at Norman standing in the ring. He stood tall, shoulders back, basking shamelessly in his supposed victory.

I want to challenge Sir Norman’s identity right here and now, but...

Rajis shook his head. He knew no one would believe him, as Norman perfectly looked like a human. Even if he claimed that Norman’s arm had stretched out and grabbed his ankle to switch their positions, people would just dismiss it as an excuse.

Refusing to accept defeat is not befitting of a knight.

Even if there had been foul play, failing to prevent it was his own failure. In the end, Rajis chose to accept his loss.

The referee, now in the ring, seemed to sense Rajis’ silent resolve. He gave a small nod before turning to Norman.

Grabbing Norman’s arm, who was now beaming with pride, the referee announced: “Rajis has lost, as he has crossed the ring! The winner is...”

But just as Norman’s victory was about to be declared, a voice thundered from the audience, echoing across the arena.

“Objection!”

And it was a voice everyone recognized.